Tire-tightener



(No Modl.) v

A. M. REEVES. TIRE TIGHTENER.

No. 449,234. Patented Mar. 31, 1891.

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ALEXANDER MARION REEVES, OF BUDA, TEXAS TIRE-TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,234, dated March 31, 1891.

Application filed October 25, 1890. Serial No. 369,382. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER MARION REEVES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buda, in the county of Hays and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tire Tighteners and Clamps; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in tire-tighteners, and also to clamping devices used in connection therewith.

The invention consistsin the improved construction and combination of parts, as here inafter more fully set forth and described.

The object is to produce a device which will be most effective in operation and at the same time inexpensive of production, thereby reducing the cost to the minimum and saving the expense of having tires shrunk in the ordinary way at blacksmith-shops.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of the rim of a wheel, showing my improved tightener applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section. Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective of the tightener, showing one of the plates removed or detached. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a wheel, showing my improved clamps applied thereto. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line a: a, Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a detail view of one member of the clamps in perspective and looking from the inner side.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the letter A indicates the wheel, B the spokes, and C the follies. The wedge proper is indicated by the letter D, and consists, preferably, of an oblong block formed upon opposite sides with central longitudinal ridges or semicircular ribs cl (Z. These ridges or ribs, it will be noticed by reference to Figs. 2 and'3 of the drawings, are wedge-shaped or taper from the point cl to the point d When the block is inserted in the telly-joint, as hereinafter serve to retain the wedge in place and prevent any lateral displacement.

In Figs. 4, 5, and 6 of the drawings I have illustrated myimproved clamping device used in connection withthe tightener. This device constitutes four metallic pieces F, and as each piece is similar in all respects, so far as construction is concerned, for the sake of convenience only one willbe described. This consists of an arm or clamping-plate having at one end an angular extension f, which protrudes above the rim of the wheel, and pro vided at its opposite end with a slight downward extension f while its inner face is corrugated or ribbed, as indicated by the letter f Both the angular extension and the downward extension are provided with bolt-holes)" and f respectively. The clamps are intended,

to be applied to the wheel upon each side of the felly-joint or where the wedge is inserted. They are arranged on each side of the joint in pairs, two of the plates being upon the inside of the rim and two on the outside with the fluted or corrugated faces against the sides of the rims. Bolts G G are then passed through the registering holes or apertures of the downward and angular extensions, said bolts being provided with screw-threaded ends to receive nuts H, which are screwed up tight, so as to prevent slipping of the clamps when the wedge is driven in between the same. The object of these clamps is to force the tellyjoint open, so that the wedge D may be read ily inserted, and this object is accomplished in the following manner: The clamps being arranged in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4, a wedge consisting, preferably, of two pieces of wood, as indicated in dotted lines, is forced into the space between the ends of the clamps, and as these wedges are driven home said clamps will have the effect of forcing the felly-joint open, inasmuch as they are firmly held to the rim, both by the bolts G and the serrated faces. After the joint has been forced open sufficiently the wedge D may then be readily inserted. After the block is thus adjusted the plates E are then secured,which,

it will be observed, serve the twofold purpose of preventing displacement of the wedge and holding the ends of the follies to their place. It will of course be understood that the 5 wedge is inserted at the joint transversely to the rim of the wheel, though of course it could be forced in place vertically. In that case, however, it would not only leave one of the plates standing out from the periphery of the Wheel, thus tending to produce uneven riding,but would also necessitate puncturing the tire to permit of one of the pins (1 passing therethrough. These of course would be serious disadvantages, and I therefore prefer to insert the wedge in the manner illustrated in the drawings, although I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to that particular mode of application.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that my improved tightener is exceedingly simple in construction and easy of application, and possesses among other advantages the facility of overcoming the probability of great damage arising from the tightening of the tire too much.

Having th us described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A wedge for tightening vehicle-tires, consisting of a body portion provided with longitudinal ridges or webs, substantially as set forth.

2. A wedge for tightening vehicle-tires, consisting of a body portion provided with longitudinal tapering ridges or webs, substantially as set forth.

3, The combination, with a wheel-rim, of clamps arranged in pairs upon each side of the fellyjoint, said clamps consisting of plates having a fluted 0r corrugated inner surface, and provided at one end with an angular upward extension and at the opposite ALEXANDER MARION REEVES.

W'itnesses:

L. D. OARRINGTON, J12, LEE CARRINGTON. 

